Drug drop-off site to open Saturday, Oct. 26

Wisconsin's Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is encouraging Wisconsinites to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA'S) National Prescription Drug "Take-Back" Day. Here in Waupun you can take your unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs to our local drop-off site which is at Agnesian Pharmacy located at 904 West Main Street in Waupun. A Waupun Police Officer will be assisting in the drop-0ff along with Agnesian personnel. This service is free and anonymous. The date and time is today, October 26, 2013 from 10 am - 2 pm. I realize this date may not give you the time you need to gather you unwanted prescriptions, so I have more information for local drop-off farther down in this article.

Attorney General Van Hollen states "preventing prescription drug diversion and misuse goes hand-in-hand with preventing Heroin abuse, which we know is a significant problem in communities across Wisconsin." Van Hollen also stated "many heroin users start by abusing prescription drugs". During the last "Take-Back" day in April of this year, Wisconsin residents dropped off nearly 23 tons (45,581.3 lbs.) worth of unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs at nearly 180 collection sites statewide. Throughout our State in 2012, the DEA reported that a total of 60,205 lbs., or 30.1 tons, worth of prescription drugs were dropped off during the two "Take-Back" days in April and October of 2012, making Wisconsin one of the largest contributors of unwanted medications in the country.

Our local Police Department just recently installed a metal drug drop box in the lobby of our Police Department which is for citizens to use throughout the year during their regular business hours. Please keep this service in mind when you are cleaning out your medicine cabinet so your unwanted prescriptions are safely disposed of.